Australian Michael Cheika will not be coach of Stade Francais next season, a source close to the French Top 14 club said on Monday.
“It was decided this morning (Monday) that Michael Cheika will no longer coach the professional team of Stade Francais next season,” the source told AFP, adding that it had not been determined if he were to stay on in another capacity.
Cheika took over as director of rugby at the Parisian club at the start of the 2010/11 season on a two-year contract after spending five years at Leinster, with whom he won the European Cup in 2009.
But the Australian, who played one season at Stade Francais in 1991-1992 and also spent two years at Castres, has failed to revive Stade’s fortunes.
The Parisians finished seventh in this season’s Top 14, missing out on a final play-off spot for the third successive season. It followed their worst ever finish last year since they came back into top-flight rugby in 1997/8.
Cheika has been helped this season by former Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma and ex-scrum-half Christophe Laussucq as forwards and backs coaches respectively, and the duo are being retained by the club.
After a run of inconsistent results culminating in a demoralising 25-9 loss to now-relegated Brive in March, several players took Cheika to task over some of his decisions, later also complaining to president Thomas Savare, at the helm since Max Guazzini stood down last June.
Losing Faith
Guest
Bit strange that people think Chieka is "one of them" ? Michael Chieka was the only forward in the Randwick Pack of 1990s that never got a go a Rep Level. This is despite the fact he had ability and passion, so he's not "one of them". He would be better off avoiding Tahs dud structure and damaging factions. Go to the Force or stay in Europe, but avoid Tahs like the plague.
Once-was-a -second-rower
Guest
Does anyone know why Nick Mallet isn't appearing on the Force's shortlist that keeps getting published? Has he not applied, or are the Force only looking at Aussie coaches? I'd far rather a proven Saffa coach than a still relatively unproven Aussie one!
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
jameswm Cheika at the Force and Mallett at the Tahs next year, sound any good?
jameswm
Guest
Gary I think the Tahs need more than a Cheika, no disrespect to him. I think they need someone like Nick Mallett. Someone from outside to come in and shake things up, as Jake White has done at the Brumbies. Maybe I'm underestimating Cheika. And can we PLEASE have some sort of half decent backs coach? And a conditioning coach who works outside the weights room as well?
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
I temper my first initial enthusiasm for Cheika to be the Force Coach. After seeing how badly the Tahs are going with Foley it wouldn't surprise to see Cheika coaching in NSW next year. I wouldn't mind being in Cheika's shoes, might be on a good wicket next season either way in WA or NSW. I would suppose that Cheika would choose NSW as he has coached there before and would fit with the Tahs board as "one of them".
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
It's getting tougher and tougher to finish in the top 6. Cheika did a good job with what he had. Perpignan, Biarritz and Bayonne are behind and battled against relegation all year long. Phone lines between perth/sydney and Paris mut be busy right now.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
May the Force be with you Michael Cheika. This looks to be a golden opportunity for the Force to acquire a good coach. Hope they don't miss out on him.
Ben S
Roar Guru
So it's not just Ewen McKenzie then...
Herbert Badgery
Guest
Free to move to Perth now...